Friday, January 24, 2014

Myanmar: prelate asks for return of confiscated land, schools

The leading prelate in Myanmar (Burma) has asked the government to
return Church land and schools that were confiscated by the military
regime that ruled the nation from 1962 to 2011.

The regime confiscated Catholic schools in 1965 and expelled most foreign missionaries the following year.

“The Church has done a great job in the field of education and health,”
said Archbishop Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, according to a Fides report.
“Many schools in Myanmar were started by Christians. Not recognizing
such valuable contribution, the former regime confiscated our properties
and our schools. To contribute to the development of the nation, we ask
that such structures are given back to us. It is our cultural right.”